Mail bag



G. MGBR'IDE IVI-arch 24, 19.31.

MAIL BAG Filed July 27, 1929 C5 Sheets-Sheet l 'A 'da March 24, 1931.

G. MCBRIDE MAIL BAG Filed July 27, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. MCBRIDE March 24, 1931*.

MAIL BAG Filed July 27, 1929 3 sheets-sheet 3 Figa U 17m/ways:

Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES GEORGE MCBRIDE, OF BELFAST, IRELAND MAIL :BAG

Application. filed July 27, 19279, Serial No. 381,580, and in Great Britain November 27, 1928.

This invention relates to devices for attachment to doors or other places for the reception of mail7 its. object being to provide a simple and inexpensive device for such purpose. A further obje-ct is to provide such a device in the form of a fabric bag formed from a piece of fabric so shaped and foldable that the bag can Vlie fiat against the door or other place, and when opened for extraction of mail, gives easy access to the interior.

According to this invention I provide a bag for attachment to doors or other places for the reception of mail, such bag being formed from a' substantially rectangular piece of 15 fabric having two adjacent corners cut off, by

folding over and joining together the two side portions having the cut-olf corners, fitting in a frame at the top or mouth of the y bag (i. e., where the cut-away corners are) in order to keep the same opened out, and

closing the bottom of the device.

The aforesaid frame of the bag is preferably hinged to the article to which the bag is attached so that it can be moved into a posi- 25 tion to enable the mail to be easily removed therefrom.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings whereon an example is given of a door letter opening with a preferred construction of the bag applied thereto.

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the letter bag in position at the back of a door behind the letter opening therein, the bag being shown in position for receiving letters.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line XX Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the bag with the mouth moved down to the horizontal-position to give access to the bag.

Fig. 4 shows how the material, from which the bag is made, is shaped and how it is folded over for attachment to the rigid frame.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the top of the bag, corresponding to Fig. l, showing the mouth of the bag attached to a plate which can be readily secured by screws to the back of a door behind the letter opening therein.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the letter bag shown in Fig. l, but looking in the opposite gether at 9a, corresponding to the line'9, Fig. :5f

direction; it shows the side edges of the formed and folded bag `in relation to Athe edges of the piece of material, and also shows the folds in the mouth of the bag at the rigid frame.

Referrino' to the drawings The flexible bag of fabric i is made from a piece of material shaped as in Fig. 4 folded over along the lines 7, 8 and'joined along the line 9. It is important that the topcorners f of the otherwise rectangular material should be cut off, Yas indicated at la, to. ensure that the material behind the month of the bag, in the position shown Y at Fig. l, will lie flat against the letter opening 2 in the door, and i5 the cut away corners may with advantage be slightly curved. The mouth of the bag is shown secured'to a rigid frame 3 of rectangular shape secured to a hinge 4i;l thisfframe is secured to the fabric in the position shown in L dotted lines in Figi `The edges 1a of the fabric l are stitched over the sidesof the wire frameA at 3 (Fig. 6) `while thetwo lateral edges y'of the fabric are stitched to- 2i.V Owing to the shape of the piece of fabric shown in Fig. 4, when the bag is flattened out,`folds substantially at l0 and 11 (Fig. 6) appear' at either side adjacent to the frame,

the fold ll'being underneath the, fold 12.

"When the bag is opened as at Fig. 3, for eX- traction of letters or the like, the folds 10 and Il open out and enable free access to be had to the bag. Y

In the example shown 'the hingev 4 has a 1^ dented portion 4a and there is a corresponding dent in the Wire 'frame 3. These interengaging indentations leffectively locate the position of the wire frame 3 and prevent it from sliding through thehinge, avoiding the use of washers, or other means to hold the frame in position Ain the hinge.v If desired,

more than one hinge may be used, butra single hinge as shown is adoptedforcheapness.

The rectangular mouthl frame 3 to which "'55' the top ofthe bag is attached can be swung about the hinge 4 and when required moved to the position shown in plan at Fig. '3. In this position easy'access is given to 'the bag from'behind the door. A catchV 5 is shown 1@ for holding the mouth of the bag against the back of the door as shown at Figs. 1 and 2. Instead of the catch shown, a more elaborate form of clip could be used.

If desired, the hinge 4 may be attached to a plate 6 which can be readily secured by screws 6, orequivalent, to the back of the door. A j j The invention has been described througlr out as applied to a door, but it can be readily applied to letter openings'in windows, partitions and elsewhere. The device can also obviously be used for the reception of circulars, papers, and other mail matter. 1

The invention is simple and cheap. It can be sold readily through the post as the bag will fold up fiat for mailing purposes.

I claim l. A bag for the reception of mail matter comprising in combination; a substantially rectangular piece of fabric having two adj acent corners cut off, the two side portions (of the piece of fabric) having the cutoff corners, being folded over and joined together; a frame member attached to said piece of fabric at the top thereofA (that is, where the cut substantially rectangular frame member to which the top edges of said piece of fabric are stitched, forming a mouth; and a closure on the bottom of the bag.

5. A bag for the reception of mail matter comprising in combination; a substantially rectangular piece of fabric having two adj acent corners cut oif, the two side portions (of the piece of fabric) having the cut off corners being folded over and oined together; a substantially rectangular frame member to which the top edges of said piece of fabric are stitched (that is, where the cut away corners are), forming` a mouth; a closure on the bottom of the bag; a support for the bag;

atleast one hinge, each attached to saidsupport' and hingeably supporting said bagv by its frame; and corresponding indentations in saidframe member and in each hinge, said indentations being adapted to engage with each other and grip said bag either in a 'position preventing access, or in a position 'givig access, to the interior thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE MCBRIDE.

away corners are)V forming a mouth; and a closure on thevbottom of the bag.

2. A bag for the reception of mail matter comprising in combination; a substantially rectangular piece of fabric having two adjacent cornersV cut olf, the two side portions (of the piece of fabric) having the cut off corners being folded over and joined together; a frame member attached to said piece of fabric at thetop thereof (that is, where the cut away corners are) forming `a mouth, a closure on the bottom of the bag; a support for the bag; and meansA hingeably attaching said bag by its frame, to said support.

3. A bag for the reception of mail matter comprising in combination; a substantially rectangular piece of fabric having two adjacent corners cut ofi', the two side'portions (ofthe piece of fabric) having the cut off corners being folded over and Ajoined together; a frame member attached to said piece ofV fabric at the top thereof (that is, where the cut away corners are) forming a mouth, a closure on the bottom of the bag; a support for the bag; at least one hinge, each attached to said support and l1ingeably supporting said bagby its frame; and corresponding indentations inV said frame nember and in each hinge, said indentations being adapted to engage with each other and grip said bag either in a position preventing access, or in a'position giving access, to the interior thereof.

4. 'A bag for thek reception of mail matter comprising in combination; a substantially rectangular piece of fabric having two adj acent corners'cut off, the 'two side portions (of the piecey of fabric) having the cut off corners being folded over and 'joined together;l a 

